Pride and professionalism demand that the Ireland squad complete the final week of the SANZAR Invitational Under-21 championship with style. The failure to reach the semi-finals has added further determination to finish fifth in the eight-team tournament.
To facilitate this goal Irish coach Brian McLaughlin spoke to the players at length in a team meeting yesterday before the squad departed for training. He redirected Irish ambition ahead of tomorrow's clash with Wales. In some respects Ireland's remaining assignments resemble a mini-Five Nations event.
Should they best Wales then they are likely to face England in the final match, providing that the latter overcome Argentina on the same day: the winners of the two matches face each other for fifth and sixth place, the losers for seventh and eighth.
Since that game against France, Ireland's performance improved with each outing and the 22-6 loss to New Zealand didn't reflect the quality of their display on Friday night. A less edifying legacy from that match is that London Irish scrum-half Kieron Campbell was forced out of the remainder of the tournament.
Campbell suffered a second blow to the head in as many games, this one leaving him concussed and catching a flight from Buenos Aires to London on Saturday afternoon.
David Spence of Queen's University arrived yesterday to restore the Irish squad to its full compliment. Campbell's absence ensures that Old Belvedere's Simon Keogh will start the last two matches. He came on after 57 minutes of the New Zealand game and produced a performance of the quality no less influential than his predecessor.
David Quinlan remains a major doubt for tomorrow's game after suffering lateral ligament damage to his knee in a collision that unfortunately left New Zealand centre Nathan Mauger with a broken leg. The Blackrock College player has been superb thus far and his absence would constitute a setback. Jeremy Staunton is also nursing a leg injury but is expected to be available for selection.
Better news for McLaughlin is that Shane Horgan is eligible after his one match suspension and will return to the starting line-up. It is unlikely that there will be too many changes in the wake of the New Zealand game. Props Stephen Baretto and Simon Best seem certain to play their fourth game in succession, a tremendous achievement given the attritional levels of the forward exchanges.
Aidan Kearney may partner Robert Casey in the second row, allowing Mick O'Driscoll a rest, while Donnacha O'Callaghan and Leo Cullen should continue in the backrow. Andrew Hughes, Michael Haslett and Paul Neville will contest the openside berth.
Ascertaining Keogh's partner at halfback is difficult: Mark McHugh, Andrew Dunne and Staunton will all be considered. Kevin Hartigan will partner Shane Horgan in the absence of Quinlan, Jonathan Davis may be restored to the right wing with Tom Keating and Bryn Cunningham continuing at left wing and fullback.
An opportunity to test themselves against the Springboks and the Australians is something that the players coveted. But what is transparent and more tangible is that Ireland has shown the aptitude to compete against Southern Hemisphere opposition and that the IRFU's decision to court an invitation to this tournament an intelligent one.
The pitfalls which dogged Irish ambition will be rectified in time for next year's event, primarily the prerequisite for a couple of competitive matches for the squad before arriving at the tournament venue.
If so Ireland will be better prepared in 12 months time. The more immediate priority is to ensure fifth place, something that this squad deserves as a minimum reward.
